Ham station commemorates gold discovery

By Charlie Basham

 

“CQ-CQ-CQ. This is alfa-golf-six-alfa-uniform. Calling CQ-CQ.  Q-R-Zed?”

This strange string of words actually makes sense – at least to an amateur (ham) radio operator. It was repeated hundreds of times last weekend at the hill-top site of the James W. Marshall Monument in the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma. Under the watchful eyes of Marshall’s statue the El Dorado County Amateur Radio Club (EDCARC) operated a special ham radio station commemorating the 174^th anniversary of Marshall’s discovery of gold in Coloma.

“Q-R-Zed the station ending in three-delta-echo? This is AG6AU. You’re  five and seven. The Q-T-H is where James Marshall discovered gold in California in 1848. The handle here is John. Over”

“This special event radio station is an opportunity for our club to interact with ham operators around the world,” said Jay Harmor, president of EDCARC. “It’s a unique way to share the site’s historic significance with people who may never get the chance to visit.  They get a sense of touching a part of history. Judging by the interest of the hams we’ve talked to, the excitement and aura of the Gold Rush still carries worldwide fascination.”

Harmor reported that the club’s radio station made contact with 369 hams in 42 states and five countries. The ham operators who talked with the special event station will receive a special certificate recognizing the brief conversation.

“Our certificate (called a QSL) is a collector’s item. Over the years we’ve had hundreds of hams track us down in order to make contact and earn the certificate,” Harmor said. “Through our radio station we’re spreading the word of gold.”

Harmor said there was a near continuous line of hams waiting for a chance to make their brief contact with history. The station’s 16 operators were provided a fact sheet of historical information about the gold discovery site they could share in their conversations.

The local hams assembled the station using their personal electronic equipment, which they will also use for emergency and disaster communications should the situation arise.

“We’re always prepared for an emergency,” said Greg Schwab as he began a shift at the radio controls. “This event gives us the opportunity to test our readiness and our organizational skills. It helps us to become better prepared for a real emergency.”

According to Harmor, the ham club has served the Placerville and surrounding communities since the early 1960s. The club’s call sign, AG6AU, which is assigned by the Federal Communications Commission, appropriately represents the Periodic Table of Elements’ symbols for silver (AG) and gold (AU).

Harmor predicted that next January, on the occasion of the 175^th anniversary, the club will expand the station’s capabilities in order to talk to even more ham operators around the world.

“Roger, roger , victor-echo-five-whiskey-yankee. We copy the five and nine plus twenty. Seventy-threes…

 Q-R-Zed? This is Alpha-golf-six-alpha-uniform. A special event station commemorating the discovery of gold in California. Q-R-Zed?”

 Charlie Basham lives in Placerville and has been a ham radio operator for more than 45 years.